Is Manchester United really on the rise?

But if Anfield has been the place that decided the fate of many Manchester United managers, then the night of October 19 could be the moment the Portuguese finds his own light.

From the abyss to Anfield

It is hard to believe that not long ago, Amorim publicly admitted that his team was “probably the worst in Manchester United’s history”. He was under terrible pressure, the British press counted down each round as if counting the days of his short reign.

And then, in the middle of Anfield – where Manchester United had not won for nine years – Amorim and his players created a fiery night where they played as if the club's season depended on those 90 minutes.

The 2-1 win was not a fluke. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring early on, but Liverpool rallied and equalised through Cody Gakpo in the 78th minute. That was when the Manchester United of months past would crumble.

But this time, they did not collapse. From Bruno Fernandes's perfect cross, Harry Maguire rose high to head the ball, reborn as a symbol of unyielding desire.

If Amorim needed an image to describe the spirit he wanted to instill in his team, it would be Maguire. The 32-year-old centre-back was stripped of the captaincy, pushed aside, and almost left Old Trafford. But he stayed, quietly fighting, waiting for the day he was trusted. Now, it was Maguire who delivered the iconic victory – the goal that marked the first time the club had left Anfield with three points since 2016.

“This is a high-pressure club,” said Amorim. “It’s not easy to play here, and Harry is an example for all the young players.”

MU surprisingly beat Liverpool 2-1.

At an age when many people choose safety, Maguire accepted a pay cut to extend his time of dedication. And in the moment he headed the ball past Alisson, he seemed to remove all the ridicule that had followed him for the past two years.

Victory of faith, not of illusion

Amorim called it “the biggest win since I arrived at Manchester United”. But he was under no illusions. “If we maintain this spirit in training and in matches, we will win many games. But that has to be proven by actions,” Amorim said after the match.

The warning is well-founded. United’s recent history has been one of false dawns, with each big win followed by another collapse. Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham are the next three opponents, and in the past two seasons Manchester United have failed to pick up a point in such games.

Roy Keane, the former captain of the team in their heyday, spoke for all: “The players will return to training in a better spirit, but they must use this victory as a launching pad. The club has made too many promises.”

Ruben Amorim temporarily escaped the crisis.

The most remarkable thing at Anfield was not just the score, but the way Amorim – who had been doubted to the core – got his players to fight for him. Despite being labelled by the press as “about to be sacked before Christmas”, he still smiled after the game: “You keep saying that. It’s good for me. Today the fans saw a different team. This is a win for them.”

These are not the words of a complacent man, but of a manager who has learned to use adversity to hone his character. Manchester United have not yet become dragons, but for the first time under Amorim, they have shown they want to fly.

The victory at Anfield may not have made Amorim a hero, but it did give him something more precious: time and belief. For Manchester United, “time” is a luxury after more than a decade of decline. But if they continue to show the spirit they showed that night at Anfield – fighting, united and fearless – then perhaps, after so many years of being lost, Manchester United will have found their way.

And who knows, in a season that seemed to have been decided early, Ruben Amorim may have just written the opening chapter for the "Red Devils" true journey of rebirth.

Source: https://znews.vn/manchester-united-co-thuc-su-troi-day-post1595520.html